Culminating a day of tears, frustration, peaceful protests and impassioned debate, General Conference delegates have passed an amended Traditional Plan for the denomination. The Traditional Plan affirms the current language in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, which states, “The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” (Para. 304.3). Jessica Brodie has the story for the Advocate.
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In addition to those ruled constitutional this morning, the UMC top court ruled nine petitions unconstitutional: six other aspects of the Traditional Plan (on Episcopal Accountability, Composition of Board of Ordained Ministry and Full Examination), plus the second sentence in another Traditional Plan petition and both disaffiliation plans.
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Delegates finished their legislative committee session yesterday, passing the Traditional Plan and two disaffiliation plans but rejecting the others, including the One Church and Simple plans. Today, GC2019 will reconvene as a plenary session, and it will hear from the Judicial Council as to the constitutionality of the plans, as well as take action—or not. While the Traditional Plan and two disaffiliation plans will carry forward in the plenary, it doesn’t mean there is no possibility for the One Church Plan or any other plans to resurface. Jessica Brodie has the ongoing coverage for the Advocate, here.
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On-scene coverage of the special session of General Conference 2019 (Feb. 23-26) by Editor Jessica Brodie of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate.
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South Carolina bishop, delegates share thoughts after General Conference day that saw One Church Plan fail, but Traditional and two disaffiliation plans pass. Tuesday is the final day of the special session. Jessica Brodie has the story for the Advocate.
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Day 3 of General Conference 2019 saw the legislative committee pass the Traditional and two disaffiliation plans but reject the One Church Plan and A Simple Plan. The final day is tomorrow. Jessica Brodie has the story here.
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After a Day 2 that tackled much more work than many expected, General Conference delegates will begin Day 3 perfecting the first of the way forward plans, the Traditional Plan, before moving on to the rest. Jessica Brodie has the story here.
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After a prayer-focused Day 1, General Conference delegates will spend Day 2 setting priorities, narrowing the field of legislative petitions to high-priority petitions versus low-priority ones. Jessica Brodie has the story here.
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Editor Jessica Brodie of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate is here at the special session of General Conference 2019 (Feb. 23-26) to prayerfully cover the event for South Carolina United Methodists. Here, South Carolina’s delegates and bishop describe the first day of General Conference 2019 as a holy, sacred and affirming day that enabled them to focus on the mission of the church and being centered in God.
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Delegates and other church leaders are in the final stretch as they prepare this month to head to the special called session of General Conference to help the denomination move beyond its impasse on human sexuality. The special session is slated for Feb. 23-2 in St. Louis. There, 16 delegates from South Carolina will join the 864 total men and women who are delegates from each conference in the UMC. Here’s what you need to know and how you can pray.
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By Jessica Brodie. A footnote in a recent Judicial Council decision has prompted the United Methodist Council of Bishops to amend its call for the human sexuality-focused 2019 Special Session of General Conference. The new call by the COB specifies that the purpose of the special session shall be limited to receiving and acting upon a report from the Commission on a Way Forward based upon COB recommendations—not the report of the COB itself, which had been the thrust of the previous call.
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